While I have only read 2 of Roni Loren's books, I look forward to reading many more. The writing is enjoyable and realistic. Roni doesn't drag out scenarios nor is she repetitive with dialogue.

It's really hard to write this review. I thought I loved the first book in the series, but this just destroyed me. The story and characters dug under my skin in the best possible way.

Rebecca was a fantastic character. It's hard for me to describe her. She is smart and strong, but struggles with anxiety/PTSD from the shooting which is understandable. While my anxiety is different, I completely understand her feelings. Her growth and journey was very well done and was what really got to me.

Wes was also an interesting character. I was able to picture him and his passion for food and cooking. And he was great with the kids he teaches.

The romance was beautiful and well done. It felt organic and I loved their chemistry. I just like going on the journey with them.

On top of great characters and a great romance, this book dealt with serious issues in a respectful and compelling way. I don't want to talk about spoilers so I won't go into detail. But it made me emotional-I did cry- and made me think about a lot of things.

I'm glad I had an opportunity to read this early and I'm excited to actually buy a copy when it releases in June.

4.5 stars

The One You Can't Forget by Roni Loren is such a good read, I really enjoyed it.

The storyline is entertaining all throughout the book, I kept telling myself just one more chapter then I'll go to sleep until I ended up reading it in one sitting, I just didn't want to put it down.

This is one of those books that will bring out the feels, Rebecca and Wes are likable, endearing characters that will touch your heart with their story.
I loved watching their relationship unfold, they were so good together, encouraging and supporting each other while dealing with their fears and insecurities.
These two were perfect for each other.

The One You Can't Forget is a wonderful addition to the The Ones Who Got Away series, each book has been emotional, heartfelt and I highly recommend them.

Get You copy here ...
https://www.amazon.com/One-Cant-Forge...

*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy.*

Rebecca is a survivor of one of the worst type of tragedies, a school shooting. She feels like an imposter. If everyone knew her secret, they'd blame her for all those lives lost. Wes is a recovering addict, working with dysfunctional kids. He ends up coming to Rebecca's rescue when she is mugged. He doesn't realize that she's his ex wife's lawyer that took everything from him. I really enjoyed how complex the characters are. Roni Loren knows how to tell a very involving story that hooks you from the beginning. Throw in some troubled teens and a very protective dad, and you have the makings of a fantastic story! Didn't think I'd like a story involving a school shooting, but it made me realize that everyone has a story, and this one was great!

i hadnt read the previous book by this author but i am adding it to my list. for such a hard subject matter, this book was still a feel good story. the characters still had some lighthearted moments which was nice to read about. i like how they were still working through their own individual problems and they were never set out to be "cured".

I loved Rebecca and Wesley and how they met and Knight the dog who was a hero like Wesley.
This book had its funny moments, loved the whole naked chef thing at a bachelorette party. And the lady that recognized him while he was out was priceless.
There’s also emotional moments like Rebecca holding so much inside and blaming herself for so much that wasn’t really her fault. She’s too hard on herself but I can see why she is the way she is.
I loved how things came together at the end and how Rebecca’s secret was revealed.
A really well written book on such a tough subject as high school shootings. I highly recommend this book and this series.

The second book in the series is even better than the first. The past haunts the protagonist but she is able to find happiness with the help of our hero. Imperfect people create the best characters.

Very good followup to the first book in this series, The Ones Who Got Away, which I really liked, but I must say, I think this book was even more intense! Excellent, unique storyline that will give you all the "feels" -- if you're looking for something a little different in the contemporary romance genre, I would definitely recommend this series! I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC for NetGalley.

The One You Can't Forget by Roni Loren. Likable characters and good dialogue. Not my favorite of her books but still good. I look forward to reading more books by Roni Loren.

After reading the first book in the series, I could not wait to read more of this series and Roni Loren did not disappoint with this story. I absolutely loved this story and could not put it down once I started reading it. The storyline was amazing and the author did incredible with the way they were able to write with so much emotion within the story. I really love this book series and I cannot wait to read more form this author.

A very emotional story.

The One You Can't Forget is book two in The Ones Who Got Away series but it can be read as a standalone. I highly recommend reading book one though, just so you have all of the back ground on the four women who became friends due to a horrible tragedy at their high school prom. Each of them will get their own story.

I can't say enough good things about this series and this book. It's not an erotic romance like Roni Loren's Loving on the Edge series but it has plenty of heat. It also has characters that seem very real to me.

Rebecca is a hot-shot divorce attorney; she's also a survivor of the Long Acre High shootings. She has no life outside of her work and her friendships with three other Long Acre survivors. Wesley is a recovering alcoholic. He lost everything when his wife's attorney crucified him in divorce court.

Like book one, this story ripped me up and then put me back together again. Roni Loren is a master story teller who knows how to write moving stories that engage all of your emotions. I was totally invested in the outcome for these characters and I desperately needed them to find peace (especially Rebecca-she has a secret that is tearing her apart) and their HEA.

There is simply no way for me to do justice to this book with anything that I'd write. I can't wait for the next book to come out.

A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.

Oh, this series. It just rips my heart out one page--heck, sometimes even one paragraph!--at a time.

That said, you really could read this book without having read the first one ( The Ones Who Got Away ) first. You'd miss a little bit of Rebecca's backstory with her former high school crush, but that's okay--all the major details you need to know going in about her history as a Long Acre survivor are told here, and though she does spend time with some of the other survivors (especially at the infamous "Bitching Brunches" that I might give up a limb to attend, if only they weren't fictional...okay, come to think of it, it's probably fortunate for everyone that they are) if you don't already know Liv and Finn's story, you'll still do just fine.

I can't promise you won't have a burning desire to know Live and Finn's story ASAP, however. I make no guarantees here. But I digress.

The One You Can't Forget started out strong--even though a shared event brings Rebecca and Wes together, they're soon on opposite sides when their past connection comes to light, giving the story a touch of an enemies-to-lovers vibe. When they get past that, their families (ugh, don't get me started on them!) and their own individual past demons step in to try and put on the brakes.

Then the last 20% of the book happens...OMG, I can't even tell you how many tissues I went through. Those last few chapters were absolutely draining...and thankfully, ended in one heck of an HEA. I can't think of two people who deserve it more! At least until Taryn and Kincaid get their books, that is... :)

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

The One You Can’t Forget is one you won’t forget anytime soon! I was completely fascinated with the storyline and I was trying desperately to figure out what Rebecca had kept a secret for so many years. I love how Wes helped Rebecca open up and know that she deserved a second chance. This story was about forgiving others and yourself and how second chances can mean everything.

One action, either bad or good, can bring about so many different reactions. One choice can change lives far beyond the moment. Rebecca is a survivor, and she carries survivor’s guilt along with a secret every single day of her life. She’s now a divorce lawyer and seeing the destruction of so many happy possibilities has jaded her towards true love… if such a thing ever existed. One mugging will bring terror back into her life, one man and one brave dog will change her future — if she can take the risk of believing in love for herself.

Wes had it all or so he thought until his wife’s divorce lawyer believed a lie and completely tore apart everything that Wes once was. He made a choice to drown his lost dreams in a liquor bottle. He also made the choice and the constant battle to pull himself out of that dark place and begin a new dream. His love of food, cooking it, creating from it has taken a new direction in his work with troubled teens. It’s fulfilling work, different from where he thought he’d be but he’s content within the daily battle against picking up that bottle again. Wes happened to be in the right place at the right time when he stopped a mugging. One action that will bring him face to face with the woman who helped destroy his former life… and perhaps is the answer to his future dreams.

The One You Can’t Forget is an emotional story, one with repercussions for past actions yet one with hope for the future. Rebecca and Wes make a compelling couple. Each survivors in their own way, neither as hard or calculated as was believed. I liked them, wanted them to work beyond the past and enjoyed every single moment spent in their world. I know how one decision, one action can change lives forever and this romance brings that reality to the forefront so well. You’ll cry, you’ll chuckle and maybe even get angry but one thing I can guarantee you will feel throughout this story. I got lost in this story and enjoyed the journey and I believe you would as well. I’d recommend The One You Can’t Forget to any Contemporary Romance reader who likes to dig a little deeper, can change direction on what they thought a person was like and believes in finding a happy ending is possible for anyone.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

THE ONE YOU CAN'T FORGET had me from the first chapter. This romance features a couple with great banter and lots of sexiness as they find their way to love through their own pain.

I wasn't a huge fan of the first book in this series of interconnected stand-alones, but I enjoyed this one immensely, so much that I read the first 65% in one sitting and woke up the next morning to read more before work. I love that feeling of "OMG I can't wait to read more."

Rebecca is one of the survivors of a well-known school shooting. Twelve years later, she's a successful attorney at her father's family law practice, but she's still battling with her own demons, mainly her hidden guilt over her perceived involvement in the shooting. And her view on love is more than a little jaded, thinking "[love] is a bad bet." Wes is a chef at an after school program trying to turn his life around. He turned to drinking after losing everything in a brutal divorce. The two meet when Rebecca is mugged at gunpoint and Wes chases away her attackers. But he's no stranger (this is where it gets good, you guys). He was the ex-husband of one of her former clients, whom she represented in a divorce. Her opinion of him isn't that high, but good god the chemistry! Can you sense the animosity there? (hint: there's some animosity).
"And did you just flirt with me in a room full of children?"
She crossed her arms and gave him her best haughty lawyer look. "Of course not. This is a request for a friendly meal."
He laughed, a deep melodic sound. "I like it." He moved his hand around indicating her general person. "I like this whole version of Rebecca who doesn't hate me."

One of the things I liked the most about this one was Wes and Rebecca's witty banter. I loved the easy way they talked to each other from the first moment they met and the progression of their relationship just felt very natural. I bought it all hook, line and, sinker.
"Fun, Wes. Just fun between friends. And I want to have fun with you."
"Naked fun," he said, his lips curving.
"Yes, but not in a dirty school bus."
He grinned wide. "It was the lack of shirt. I told you."
She looped her arms around his neck. "Nope, it was the books. I've been hot and bothered and completely distracted since. Entire sexual fantasies have been woven. Filthy thoughts have been had."

This book was funny and sexy but it also dealt with heavier subjects, like mental health issues and addiction—both of which were well-researched. I liked having that tension and sense of counterbalance.

I really loved them as a couple! Wes and Rebecca were cute and adorable. I believed their romance and couldn't wait until they were together on the page. They really cared for each other and helped one another through their own issues. I felt the chemistry between them from the beginning. That first kiss was really great! Rebecca didn't want to like Wes because...HELLO...she saw his ex's side of things in court. But meeting him now and getting to know his heart, she couldn't help but fall. Neither could I.

If you're on the hunt for a fun and sexy contemporary romance, I 100% recommend this book. It was pure entertainment. It had the funny moments, sexy build-up, and romantic tension I crave. Yay!

* Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with an early copy for review.

‘The One You Can’t Forget’ is the second book in the The Ones Who Got Away series. I read the first book in this series, ‘The One Who Got Away’ in January of this year and completely devoured it. I really loved every single page of that book. So when I was saw the second book ‘The One You Can’t Forget’ on Netgalley, I just knew I had to request that book. And I was super excited when I found out I was approved to read this book.

In ‘The One You Can’t Forget’ we meet Rebecca Lindt. Rebecca is one of the survivors of the Long Acre High Shooting and ever since High School Rebecca worked hard to get where she is today. Rebecca is a successful divorce attorney and working hard to become partner in her dads law firm. Rebecca works long hours and doesn’t have a lot of free time. But that’s the way she likes it. Free time makes you think about stuff. And that’s the last thing she wants.
When Rebecca meets Wes Garrett he is everything she doesn’t want. Divorced, a troublesome past and an alcohol problem. But the attraction between Rebecca and Wes is immediate. And although they both don’t want it.. they can’t stay away from each other.

Since I loved the first book in this series, I had very high expectations of the second book. And I was definitely not disappointed. Rebecca and Wes are both two great characters I loved getting to know. Although it seems they have nothing in common, they connect with each other from the moment they met. The attraction is instant and the chemistry between them is just addicting to read about. I loved how they slowly got to know each other better and how they both made each other better.

This series is just one of those I can’t seem to get enough of. I love the characters, the story lines and the emotions, and I just want to read more. Although this book is the second book in the series, you can read it as a standalone. But I’m glad I was able to read the first book first, just so I knew a little more about the shooting.

Trigger warnings: school shooting survivor, ex-alcoholic, panic attacks, animal injury, mugging (with gun), discussion of suicide attempts, child abuse

There are a few authors who have the amazing ability to rip my heart out and make me love them for it, and Roni Loren is one of them. This is the second book in her The Ones Who Got Away series. I think this could easily be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the first book anyway!

“That’s actually one of the things I like best about you. You’re all about the action, lawyer girl.” He waggled his eyebrows, trying to lighten the mood. “It’s come in handy so far. Random kissing the first night I met you. Basically seducing me yesterday after we decided to take things slow. Your lack of patience is paying off in great dividends for me.”


Rebecca and Wes meet when she’s mugged at gunpoint by two teens on the way home from work. Rebecca’s attackers are scared away by a stray dog, and Wes comes along in the aftermath and takes the dog – who’s been shot – to his brother, a vet. Rebecca is a survivor of a school shooting, a divorce lawyer in her father’s firm, and on track to make partner when her dad retires to go into politics. Partly because of the shooting, part of his campaign platform is tougher sentencing for juvie offenders – his reasoning being that if the justice system had been harder on the school shooters, they would never have gotten the chance to shoot up prom. Her dad loves her in his own way – and is proud of what she overcame – but he’s also willing to use her. He doesn’t seem to care that she doesn’t want to give talks about her experience as a survivor, that she’d rather talk about her work as a lawyer or pretty much anything else. Wes is, in his own words, “a recovering alcoholic who let his dream slip through his fingers.” He’s a recovering alcoholic and lost his restaurant before it even opened in a divorce mess. The best part? His ex-wife’s lawyer was Rebecca. His current job is teaching cooking at an after school program for troubled teens, and though he dreams of opening his own restaurant, he worries that being back in that environment could cause him to backslide. They don’t seem to have anything in common, but something draws them to the other person. Can a relationship between two such different people work?

“He didn’t blame her for not wanting to talk about it. They’d only agreed to have a good time together, to be casual friends. He wasn’t her boyfriend or confidant. He was a distraction, as she’d said.
So if she wanted a distraction, he would happily distract the hell out of her.”


What I love most about Ms. Loren’s book is how well she deals with trauma. In this book, to the outside world, Rebecca has it all – great job, “supportive” father, she’s a successful survivor. But inside, she’s being swallowed up by a secret she’s kept since the shooting, and after the mugging, it starts to pop out in flashbacks. She masterfully weaves together all the different plotlines – the school shooting, Wes’s childhood, his alcoholism, the kids he’s teaching, the mugging – to arrive at the final big reveal. Neither character has been in a relationship for a while – if at all! While they both feel a draw to the other, Rebecca wants to keep this “thing” with Wes superficial, and she especially doesn’t want to talk about her flashbacks. She views Wes as a distraction from her real life, from running her dad’s charity work, speaking at his fundraisers, and taking care of her own clients. Wes’s family, on the other hand, worries that Wes is getting too focused on Rebecca, that he’s repeating the same obsessive behaviors from before. In some ways, Rebecca worries that she’ll never be worthy of love, and once Wes realizes that, they’re finally both able to confront their demons and move on. I loved how much Rebecca and Wes believed in each other and how incredibly supportive they were.

“You see, Bec, you’ve got it all wrong. You didn’t pretend to be someone else around me. You gave me the best gift. You let yourself be who you really are with me. Underneath all this hurt and trauma, all the pressure and expectations, this is you. I got to meet that girl, and I’m so damn lucky for it.”


Overall, I absolutely adored this book and couldn’t put it down, even when it was ripping my heart out. I can’t wait for the next in the series!

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

When I started this story, I wasn't sure what to expect. We'd already gotten all that shock and awe of the tragedy in the first book and I didn't know where Rebecca's story could really go. It went somewhere I never expected and in the end what a beautiful story it was. Wes has hit bottom and has no clue whether he can ever be on top again. When another scary situation confronts Rebecca, Wes is there to try to help her. He has no way of knowing who she really is and fireworks definitely go off for these two but not necessarily the good kind. This story has some signature Roni Loren steam and some angsty moments but it also carries a really important message. Maybe more than one. No matter where you are in life, things can still get better. Trust those who believe in you, trust in yourself, trust your gut and accept help when it is offered. Rebecca will learn to love herself again after so many years of guilt and seeing this strong woman let down her walls to let others in is beautiful and makes her infinitely stronger.

Rebecca Lindt and Wes Garrett’s first encounter saved her from being mugged, but it also led to the realization that the woman he rescued…the one he felt an attraction to…the one he wanted to see if there could be something more with other than a simple fling is the same woman who helped his ex-wife to dismantle every single one of his dreams.

And if that wasn’t enough to be a significant obstacle to impede anything developing between them, the fact that Rebecca and Wes both carry some pretty heavy baggage from a past that constantly rears its head and makes it extremely difficult to move forward, the idea of putting their hearts on the line is a risk they don’t know if they’re strong enough to take.

Rebecca and Wes may not see it this way, but they’re both survivors, and even though their experiences differ, they’ve been in situations that have unequivocally changed them and set them on the path they’re on now. As a divorce attorney, it makes sense that Rebecca would have a less than stellar opinion about love and marriage, but her strict focus on her work stems from more than just her perspective as a lawyer; in fact, a significant reason for who she is and what she does can be related back to a school shooting that she survived but still harbors scars and secrets from even though it happened more than a decade ago.

The secondary characters definitely made everything more difficult for Rebecca and Wes, and what made things worse is the fact that they both allowed their family members to interfere with their happiness instead of taking a stand for one another and relying on the connection they share and the possibility of what that could lead to in the future. I get that Rebecca and Wes are struggling and they need someone to lean on and share their worries and concerns with but the way they allow themselves to be steamrolled didn’t set well with me. They are two adults who have had rough patches but they are also perfectly capable of making their own decisions so I was perplexed as to why they allowed others to speak for them instead of speaking for themselves when it comes to their future.

Overall, I enjoyed One You Can’t Forget; it took a bit for me to get into the storyline and my frustration over other people’s interference and misjudgments made it taxing, at times, to focus on what was building between the hero and the heroine instead of wanting to drop kick the supporting characters, but, in the end, Rebecca and Wes get things figured out and do their best to deal with their baggage, focusing on the possibility of things between them becoming something worth the risk.

3.5/4 Poison Apples

My 3.5/4 star review is on goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2326253865

It will be posted on blog and social media upon release and links will be udpated at that time. UPDATED 6/5/18!

3.5 stars
This is Rebecca Lindt's story. The girl who got shot in the leg during the prom attack. The girl who was in love with her friend who was in love with someone else. And after a reunion twelve years later, finally learned the truth. Now the woman who is a busy lawyer that assists with charities and a campaign, and very much alone.

One night she needs help and it comes in the form of Wes Garrett. He is a man who has almost seen the pinnacle of success and then was dropped to near rock bottom. He is getting his life back together, but his dreams sometimes seem out of reach.

He does everything he can to help her. But she knows something he doesn't. They develop a rapport and attraction. They both have reasons to be skittish and gun shy. They are both damaged individuals who have had to hide their pain and bury themselves in work to have a focus. She is afraid to be that romantic, idealistic girl again and has become jaded. And she is holding onto secrets and guilt. And he has also seen the negative side of life and love. They both have some types of scars whether physical or emotional and are facing demons. But despite the fact they don't really seem to fit, they make each other feel alive and maybe even hope.

But Becca's past is holding back and all of her past is gradually revealed. What will happen when all of her secrets come out? Will she be judged by him as others as harshly as she judges herself?

This is a story about living, loving, paying it forward, self forgiveness, and redemption. These two were kind of a mess, but they helped balance each other out and inspire the other. They both had so much to overcome to try to find a place where they could feel actual happiness, but due to their pasts they also had fears, insecurities, and ongoing issues. And sometimes life throws surprises at you that can be good or bad. But change is hard and scary. They will have to figure out if the risk is worth the possible reward.

It technically could be read as a stand alone, but I think the first book The Ones Who Got Away gave more emotional impact and information about the tragic night from her past and set up the relationships in a way to make you more invested in this one. I will admit that I did not like this one quite as much as the first, but I was still glad to get more of Rebecca's story and find out her secrets. And I did like her and Wes together. I am interested in Taryn and Kincaid's stories.